Google claims 'fast lane' plan not hurting net

Google said it is committed to the principles of equal network access, after a report said it approached internet carriers with a proposal to create a "fast lane" for its content.

Richard Whitt, Google's telecom and media counsel in Washington, said in a company blog that the search powerhouse offered to place its servers within the facilities of internet service providers, making its data closer to consumers and therefore more easily accessed.

The Wall Street Journal said that the proposal would put at risk Google's stance on network neutrality, in which cable and phone companies that operate the data pipelines should treat all traffic the same.

Whitt said Google has always said providers should be able to engage in activities that bolster access speeds through co-location and caching, both techniques that ease data traffic, as long as they do so without discrimination.

"However, they shouldn't be able to leverage their unilateral control over consumers' broadband connections to hamper user choice, competition, and innovation," he said.

"Our commitment to that principle of net neutrality remains as strong as ever."

Josh Silver, executive director of advocacy group Free Press, said that any company planning to "secretly violate" the principle of network neutrality would face strong opposition from the internet community.

"We are skeptical that Google is truly engaged in a nefarious plot to undermine the open internet - the company denies it, and we look forward to all of the facts coming to light," Silver said in a statement.

The Journal report had said one major cable operator in talks with Google said it has been reluctant to forge a deal because of concerns it might violate Federal Communications Commission guidelines on network neutrality.